Heads and Dependents Flashcards
What is a head?
The most important part of a phrase, bearing crucial semantic information that determines the meaning of the entire phrase
How does the word class of a head influence the phrase?
The word class of the head determines the class often phrase
Explain the distribution of a head and its phrase
The head is the only obligatory part of the phrase, and can have the distribution of it
- -> the BIG YELLOW SUNFLOWERS bloomed
- –> the SUNFLOWERS bloomed
How does the word class of a head influence the word class of the dependants?
If the head is a noun, it’s modifying dependants can be adjectives but not adverbs
If the head is a verb, the dependants can only be adverbs
How can you identify a noun phrase?
If it is modified by adjectives
How can you identify a verb phrase?
If it is modified by adverbs
Does agreement affect heads and dependants? Give examples
In some languages, like Spanish, dependants must agree with the head.
The determiner and the adjectives agree - los aguas peligrosos
What is a dependent?
Modifiers of a head
What is a complement?
An obligatory dependant
Name two types of dependents
Complements and Adjuncts
What is a head initial language? Give an example phrase
Languages where the HEAD precedes the (complement)
many have a lot of (ADMIRATION for the new dean)
What is a head final language? Give an example phrase
Japanese - the HEAD follows the (complement)
Taro (Hanako flower GAVE)
Give examples of head-dependent relationships within different syntactic phrases
Prep+NP= TO the lighthouse
Verb+Subj/Obj= Barack LOVES Michelle
Possessive Noun+Possessor’s NP= love’s LABOUR
Noun+Adj= red HOUSE
What is head and dependent marking?
Languages mark at least on of the two to indicate the relationship
Give an example of head/dependent marking in English
Gatha’s HOUSE
- ‘s=dependent marking possession
